article Central Kentucky Power Rankings - 2018 Pre-Season

Bluegrasspreps.com is excited to provide Regional Power Rankings for the entire state by breaking the state into five regions: Eastern Kentucky, Central Kentucky, Northern Kentucky, Western Kentucky and the Louisville Area. The Power Rankings will overview which teams are at the top in their region, regardless of class. The weight of wins and loses are subjective to the quality of the opponents and the team's performance. This means all wins or losses will not be seen as equal.

 

In addition to the Top 10 in each region, the Power Rankings will include: two Big Risers of the week that are moving up but have not yet made it into the Top 10, two Big Droppers of the week that have dropped further away from the Top 10, the Game of the Week that you won't want to miss reading about, and the Player of the Week for each region.

 

1. 3A Boyle County (3A State Champions, 14-1)

 

Boyle County looks to repeat as 3A State Champions as they return a ton of experience from last season's team. Led by QB Reed Lanter, who threw for almost 2600 yards, 28 touchdowns and 4 interceptions while completing 69% of his passes the Rebels will also return their top two rushers in Tanner Crawford (1928 yards, 25 TDs) and Landen Bartleson (1137 yards, 24 total TDs) along with sensational WR/DB Reese Smith (1037 yards, 15 TDs, 9 INTs). Linemen Aaron Hatter and Wilson Kelly will anchor the defensive line and LB Ezarious Roller aka EZ Roller will be behind them patrolling the field. Long story short, this Boyle County team is absolutely loaded and will a problem for every team on their schedule. They are not only the top team in 3A leading into this season but they are arguably one of the top 5 teams overall in the state.

 

 

2. 6A Scott County (6A Semifinals, 11-3)

 

Scott County looks to finish their last year in 6A with a bang as they try to topple those green mountains in Louisville and win the 6A state title. Austin Barnett and his 1310 yards and 22 touchdowns returns to lead a rushing attack that has proven to be an efficient offense under the watchful eye of head coach, Jim McKee. Leading WR Glenn Covington also returns as he had 852 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. It looks like Cade McKee will take over the signal calling for Scott County and if he and Covington can establish some chemistry early that should put Scott County in a great position to succeed. While Scott County will need to find ways to replace some key players from last year’s team one thing we all know is that Scott County doesn’t rebuild, they reload.

 

 

3. 6A Frederick Douglass (6A Third Round, 10-3)

Frederick Douglass looks to build from their inaugural season and take over as the top program in the CKY area. QB Cameron Jones takes over under center for Frederick Douglass and the Cincinnati commit looks to lead Frederick Douglass to new heights. Cameron Jones transferred to Frederick Douglass from Knott County Central where he threw for 2646 yards, 28 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He will inherit the skills of versatile athlete Montaveon Bean who mostly played QB last season and will likely be seen all over the field in various spots. The hype train is leaving the tracks at Frederick Douglass this season. If they can live up to the hype they very well may become the best team in the CKY area.

 

 

4. 2A Danville (2A State Champions, 15-0)

 

The other half of TitleTown checks in at #4 in the Preseason Power Rankings as the Danville Admirals must find a way to not only replace 2017 Mr. Football, D'Mauriae VanCleave but the other 10 seniors who played a large part in bringing home the title to the Admirals last season. A good place to start is QB Zach Thornton who will bring back his combined 3000+ yards to the Admiral offense. Joining Thornton will be Darrian Bell who shined as a LB last year but will likely have an expanded role on offense this season. Expectations are that Brennen McGuire could have a strong season as well. If the Admirals can find someone to replace Don Harris at RB then they will once again be a favorite to win the 2A state title.

 

 

5. 3A Lexington Catholic (3A Third Round, 7-6)

 

The tables turned quickly on Lexington Catholic as their recent dominance of CKY came to an abrupt end with the quick rise of Boyle County. Led by QB Beau Allen the Knights look to return to form as Allen threw for 2873 yards, 33 touchdowns and 9 interceptions last season. While the Knights will need to find a replacement for Dameon Jones, some of Allen's favorite targets in Nathan Schnurr, Trenton Neuer and Luke Powell all return this season as Lexington Catholic looks to have a strong passing attack under the leadership of new head coach, Nigel Smith.

 

 

6. 6A Madison Central (6A First Round, 6-5)

 

Big things are expected in Richmond this season as Madison Central returns a lot of experience from their 6-5 team of last season. Health is one of their most important concerns as they will have multiple kids who will be playing both ways this season. Madison Central returns two of their top three RBs in Freddy Chenault and Ethan Hahn. QB Derrick Miller also returns and will have RB/DB Antwaun Warford and TE Blake Muntz back as well as Madison Central looks to keep improving and make a deep run into the postseason. The defense will be led by high energy MLB, Jackson Juett.

 

 

7. 5A Anderson County (5A Second Round, 8-4)

 

Anderson County had a strong season last year despite the early exit from the playoffs at the hands of 5A State Finals Runner Up, Madison Southern, in the second round of the playoffs. Zach Labhart returns at RB and Jagger Gillis returns at QB to lead an Anderson County offense that will need to find a way to replace the production that Blake Franklin provided the team last season. Conventional wisdom says that head coach Mark Peach will make sure that this Anderson County team reaches its full potential.

 

 

8. 4A Franklin County (4A First Round, 5-6)

 

Franklin County is yet another team that returns a ton of experience and production from last season's team. Led by versatile athlete, Tre Simmons, Franklin County looks to cash in on all of the youth that they had to use last season. Do not be surprised to see Franklin County rise in the rankings throughout the season. The potential is there.

 

 

9. 6A Henry Clay (6A Second Round, 6-6)

 

Henry Clay had an up and down year last season but they return a nice amount of talent that looks to improve on last year's finish. Darrin Van Horn, Ramond Jackson and Langston Jackson all return to lead Henry Clay into the season with plans to emerge as one of the better teams in the Lexington area.

 

 

10. 3A Western Hills (3A Second Round, 8-4)

 

Wandale Robinson. When you think Western Hills you can't help but think of Wandale Robinson. The Mr. Football front runner looks to finish his senior year strong and have Western Hills make a deep postseason run. Western Hills returns plenty of talent to do just that. While they will need to figure out who will take over at QB the opportunity is there for Western Hills to have a strong season.

 

 

Best of the Rest:

 

Mercer County

Tates Creek

George Rogers Clark

Lexington Christian

 

 

Preseason Player of the Year:

Wandale Robinson - Western Hills

 

 

Players to watch:

 

Wandale Robinson - Western Hills

Reese Smith - Boyle County

Landen Bartleson - Boyle County

Reed Lanter - Boyle County

Beau Allen - Lexington Catholic

Cameron Jones - Frederick Douglass

Montaveon Bean - Frederick Douglass

Austin Barnett - Scott County

Zach Thornton - Danville

Darrian Bell - Danville

Tre Simmons - Franklin County

Kaelin Drakeford - Mercer County

Nitavius Thomas - George Rogers Clark

 

 

Games of the Week (Week 1):

 

George Rogers Clark at Anderson County

Tates Creek at Henry Clay

Ballard vs Boyle County (at Mercer County)

John Hardin at Mercer County

Collins at Madison Central

 

Great Job Pride!!!